Today I attended the International Fund for Animal Welfare's 'Dying for Ivory' event at the House of Commons.

Recent months have seen shocking scenes of massacred elephants killed by poachers for their ivory tusks. For example, in the first two months of 2012, it is reported that as many as 650 elephants were butchered in a national park in north Cameroon.

IFAW's event highlighted the threats currently facing elephant populations, focusing on the rising consumer demand in China. Recent stockpile sales of ivory have fuelled demand, pushed prices up and allowed illegal ivory to be leaked into the market place along with legal ivory. IFAW explained a combination of these factors could be contributing to the rise of poaching and the destruction of wild elephant populations.

I was dismayed to learn that elephant poaching is on the rise and that vulnerable populations of these animals are being killed at an alarming rate, largely to meet China's growing demand for ivory. I fully support IFAW's campaign to protect elephants and urge my constituents to do the same.

You can lend your support by signing IFAW's petition and joining the virtual Elephant March at www.elephantmarch.com.

Further information about the campaign can be found on the IFAW website.